Breeding of winter rapeseed in VNIIMK: history and new results (review)

Breeding of winter rapeseed in the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops was started at the end of 60th of previous century with a selection of perspective winter forms from hybrids of spring brown mustard and winter rapeseed. Heterosis in intraspecific hybrids was studied. The best intraspecific hybrids exceeded the parental forms by 20–36% by seed yield, by 20–27% by green mass yield. A possibility to create intervarietal hybrids based on heterostyly was studied. Conditions for plants acclimation to increase cold resistance of winter rapeseed were studied; methods of selection for cold resistance were developed. In 1982, the development of rapeseed and turnip rape cultivars of ‘00’ type began. To create diversity of breeding germplasm, a great amount of samples from European counties that actively deals with rapeseed breeding were included into the work. In the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, the methods of estimation of oil and fodder protein quality were perfected, cultivars of rapeseed and turnip rape of ‘00’ type (e.g. erucic acid free and with low glucosinolate content) were developed. As a result of breeding for oil quality, high oleic cultivars were developed, that not only improve upon the oil nutritive efficiency but open new possibilities of its technical uses due to increasing oxi- and thermostability. The first Russian high oleic winter rapeseed cultivar Olivin was developed in the V.S. Pustovoit AllRussian Research Institute of Oil Crops and introduced in the State Variety Commission in 2019. The linear cultivars of winter rapeseed were developed by inbreeding, the first interlinear hybrids – using a CMS Ogura system. One of them named Debyut was introduced in the State variety trials 2020.

Effects of Crop Rotation on Spring Wheat Yield and Pest Occurrence in Different Tillage Systems: A Multi-Year Experiment in Finnish Growing Conditions

Crop rotation and soil tillage are among key factors impacting cropping system productivity, pest management and soil health. To assess their role in northern cropping systems, we quantified the effects of crop rotation on spring wheat yield in different tillage systems based on a long-term (2005–2017) field experiment in southwestern Finland. In addition, effects of crop rotation on weeds, plant pathogens, and pest insects were assessed. Three types of crop rotation were compared: monoculture (spring wheat), 2-year rotation (spring wheat—turnip rape—spring wheat—barley) and 4-year rotation (spring wheat—turnip rape—barley—pea) under no-tillage and plowing. A diversified crop rotation improved spring wheat yield by up to 30% in no-tillage and by 13% under plowing compared with monoculture. Overall, the yield quantity and quality differences between crop rotations were higher in no-tillage plots than in plowed plots. The occurrence of weed species in spring wheat before herbicide control was highest in the four-year crop rotation and lowest in the wheat monoculture. For plant diseases, wheat leaf blotch disease severity, mainly caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, was lowest in the most diverse crop rotation. On average, wheat leaf blotch disease severity was 20% less when wheat was grown every fourth year compared with wheat monoculture. The effect of crop rotation on stem and root diseases became apparent after 6 years of rotation and the disease index was lowest in the most diverse crop rotation. Neither rotation nor tillage affected the control need of wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana). Based on our results, diverse crop rotations including cereals, oilseed crops, and legumes increase yield and reduce plant disease severity of spring wheat in Finland, with the magnitude being larger in no-tillage systems.

Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in amino acid and lipid accumulation of winter turnip rape (Brassica rapa L.) in response to cold stress

Winter turnip rape (Brassica rapa L.) is an important overwintering oil crop that is widely planted in northwestern China. It considered to be a good genetic resource for cold-tolerant research because its roots can survive harsh winter conditions. Here, we performed comparative transcriptomics analysis of the roots of two winter turnip rape varieties, Longyou7 (L7, strong cold tolerance) and Tianyou2 (T2, low cold tolerance), under normal condition (CK) and cold stress (CT) condition. A total of 8,366 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between the two L7 root groups (L7CK_VS_L7CT), and 8,106 DEGs were detected for T2CK_VS_T2CT. Among the DEGs, two ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (FAD3), two delta-9 acyl-lipid desaturase 2 (ADS2), one diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), and one 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase 2 (KCS2) were differentially expressed in the two varieties and identified to be related to fatty acid synthesis. Four glutamine synthetase cytosolic isozymes (GLN), serine acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1), and serine acetyltransferase 3 (SAT3) were down-regulated under cold stress, while S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase proenzyme 1 (AMD1) had an up-regulation tendency in response to cold stress in the two samples. Moreover, the delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), δ-ornithine aminotransferase (δ-OAT), alanine-glyoxylate transaminase (AGXT), branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase (ilvE), alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde synthase (AASS), Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and arginine decarboxylase related to amino acid metabolism were identified in two cultivars variously expressed under cold stress. The above DEGs related to amino acid metabolism were suspected to the reason for amino acids content change. The RNA-seq data were validated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR of 19 randomly selected genes. The findings of our study provide the gene expression profile between two varieties of winter turnip rape, which lay the foundation for a deeper understanding of the highly complex regulatory mechanisms in plants during cold treatment.

WINTER TURNIP RAPE — MEANING, USAGE IN FODDER PRODUCTION

Presents literature review on the value of biological characteristics, the use of winter turnip rape (Brassica campestris fr. biennis). Brassica campestris fr. biennis is inferior to winter rapeseed in seed productivity, but due to the lower location of the growth point in autumn, it has a potential resistance to freezing. Pods of winter turnip rape, unlike rapeseed, do not crack under adverse weather conditions of harvesting and overstocking on the root. Seed production of winter turnip rape is 1.5–2 times higher than spring. It is characterized by a shorter (10–20 days) growing season compared to winter rapeseed. It requires a smaller amount of effective temperatures in the autumn period, so it is sown 1–2 weeks later than winter rapeseed. Winter turnip rape is the earliest forage crop. It is used in multicomponent mixtures with triticale and vetch for green food. Early harvesting allows you to thoroughly prepare the soil for intermediate and subsequent crops in the crop rotation. As a part of the mixture, it can form more than 32 t/ha of green mass with an output of up to 7 t/ha of dry matter, or up to 5900 feed units and 0.7–1.1 t/ha of raw protein. The preparation of silage feed from winter turnip rape provides high-energy feed with an exchange energy content of 10.51 MJ/kg of dry matter. Both in pure form and in a mixture allow creating a green feed conveyor. It is good honey plant. Seeds and meal of turnip rape have a higher feed value due to the low content of fiber, lignin, glucosinolates and other undesirable substances in them and can be successfully used to compound feeds with protein. The grade of winter turnip rape 'Zarya', created in the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology is used for forage and sideration purposes both in the main and in intermediate sowing. The variety is intended for use on seeds for the production of oil for both food and technical purposes, as well as for use in the green raw material conveyor. The seeds contain 23.8 ± 2% crude protein and 43.9 ± 2.3% crude fat. It is characterized by the absence of erucic acid in the oil, the content of crude fiber in the seeds is 6.41 ± 1.54%. The average content of glucosinolates in seeds is 13.2 mmol/gram. The proportion of essential amino acids in fat-free matter of seeds of winter turnip rape dawn is 46.6–50.1%, of crude protein 37.6 to 40.1%. The amino acid index (the ratio of essential amino acids to non-essential ones) is quite high: 0.8–0.9.

Evaluation of Potential Biodiesel Feedstocks: Camelina, Turnip Rape, Oil Radish and Tyfon

Background: One of the most promising alternative biofuels, competitive with regular petrol, diesel or jet fuel is biodiesel, especially derived from plant oils. Until now, various technological approaches, as well as oil sources, have been proposed for biodiesel production, but an industrially scalable technology with high end-product quality and production efficiency has not been developed and brought to the market yet. Biodiesel is produced in Europe and North America mainly from rapeseed, or canola, sunflower and soybean oil. However, other underutilized plant species could also be considered as potential oil feedstocks for biodiesel. The great perspective holds Brassicaceae family, especially such species as false flax (Camelina sativa) and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata), but many other Brassicaceae crops are still out of sight. Objectives: This research has been conducted aiming to identify and compare the productivity of several Brassicaceae crops (camelina or false flax (C. sativa), turnip rape (B. campestris), oil radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleifera) and tyfon (B. rapa ssp. oleifera f. biennis × (ssp. rapifera × ssp. pekinensis)), that are suitable for biodiesel production under conditions of temperate climate regions (Northern America, Europe); and to obtain biodiesel by transesterification of fatty acids present on these species using bioethanol. Methods and Materials: Seed oil content, yield and fatty acid profiles have been studied and analysed in different genotypes of C. sativa (10), winter (6) and spring (4) B. campestris, R. sativus var. oleifera (8) and tyfon (5). The most productive crops have been identified: false flax variety ‘Evro-12’ (1620 kg of oil per hectare) and ‘Peremoha’ (1657 kg/ha); winter turnip rape variety ‘Oriana’ (1373 kg/ha), oil radish variety ‘Kyianochka’ (1445 kg/ha) and tyfon varieties ‘Fitopal’ (1730 kg/ha) and ‘Obriy’ (1860 kg/ha). According to chromatographic analysis results, oils of winter turnip rape and tyfon contain high levels (38-42,8%) of erucic (22:1) acid, while oils from spring turnip rape, false flax and oil radish possess high amounts of short-chained fatty acids (not longer than C18) – up to 85,37% in camelina breeding line FEORZhYaFD. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) were produced from oil of best genotypes and proved to comply with all main quality requirements for diesel. Results: Moreover, a new solvent-based technology of high-yield (up to 96%) FAEE production, has been firstly proposed for C. sativa oil conversion. Conclusion: Best genotypes that can be used as a plant oil source for biodiesel production have been identified for camelina, turnip rape, oil radish and tyfon species. The data obtained on seed oil content, yield and fatty acid profiles suggested that they are: false flax – breeding form FEORZhYaFD; winter turnip rape - variety ‘Oriana’; oil radish - variety ‘Rayduha’ and tyfon hybrid - variety ‘Fitopal’. Biodiesel samples obtained from these plants fit the Ukrainian standards for diesel fuel and can be used in car engines. The proposed new technological approach to produce fatty acid ethyl esters allows to reduce reaction time and to increase esters yield and quality.

Vertical Root Distribution of Different Cover Crops Determined with the Profile Wall Method

Many benefits of cover crops such as prevention of nitrate leaching, erosion reduction, soil organic carbon enhancement and improvement of soil structure are associated with roots. However, including root characteristics as a criterion for cover crop selection requires more knowledge on their root growth dynamics. Seven cover crop species (crimson clover, winter rye, bristle oats, blue lupin, oil radish, winter turnip rape and phacelia) were grown in a two-year organically managed field experiment in Germany to screen them for root intensity and vertical root distribution. Root length density (RLD) and proportion of root length in large-sized biopores were determined before and after winter with the profile wall method. RLD and cumulative root length were analysed using a three-parameter logistic function, and a logistic dose-response function, respectively. Fibrous rooted winter rye and crimson clover showed high RLD in topsoil and had a shallow cumulative root distribution. Their RLD increased further during winter in topsoil and subsoil. The crops with the highest RLD in the subsoil were taprooted oil radish, winter turnip rape and phacelia. Bristle oat had intermediate features. Blue lupin had low RLD in topsoil and subsoil. Phacelia, oil radish, winter turnip rape and bristle oat showed the highest share of root length in biopores. These complementary root characteristics suggest that combining cover crops of different root types in intercropping may be used to enhance overall RLD for maximizing cover crop benefits.

Glyphosate residues in soil affect crop plant germination and growth

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most widely used pesticides globally. Their persistence in soils and effects on non-target organisms have become a concern in agricultural and natural ecosystems. We experimentally studied, whether residues of GBH (Roundup Gold) or pure glyphosate in soils affect the germination or sprouting and growth of crop plants after the safety period. The seed germination of faba bean, oat and turnip rape, and sprouting of potato tubers was delayed in the greenhouse experiments in soils treated with GBH or with pure glyphosate. The total shoot biomass of faba bean was 28%, oat 29% and turnip rape 58% higher in control compared to GBH soils four weeks after sowing. In the beginning of the growing season, the plant growth in the field experiment supported the observations in the greenhouse experiment. However, at the end of the field experiment, potato shoot biomass was 25% and tuber biomass 14% greater in GBH soil compared to control soil. Potato tubers tended to gather low amounts of glyphosate (0.02 mg/kg) and its metabolite AMPA (0.07 mg/kg). Grazing by barnacle geese was three times higher in oats growing in the GBH soils compared to control oats in the field. Our results draw attention to complex indirect effects of GBH on crop plant seedling establishment and resistance to herbivores.

Living on the Edge: Using and Improving Trap Crops for Flea Beetle Management in Small-Scale Cropping Systems

The use of trap crops to manage pest insects offers an attractive alternative to synthetic pesticides. Trap crops may work particularly well at smaller production scales, being highly amenable where crop diversification and reduction of synthetic inputs are prioritised over yield alone. This paper describes a series of experiments. The first was to demonstrate the potential of turnip rape (Brassica rapa L., var. Pasja) as a trap crop to arrest flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) to protect a main crop of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L., var. Lateman). The subsequent experiments explored two possible approaches to improve the function of the trap crop—either by separating trap and main crop plants spatially, or by introducing companion plants of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cv Amateur) into the main crop. In caged field experiments, feeding damage by flea beetles to crop border plantings of turnip rape far exceeded damage to cauliflower plants placed in the same position, indicating a “trap crop effect”. Neither turnip rape plants nor cauliflower as a border significantly reduced flea beetle damage to main crop cauliflower plants, although the numbers of feeding holes in these plants were lowest where a turnip rape border was used. In similar cages, leaving gaps of 3–6 m of bare soil between turnip rape and cauliflower plants significantly reduced feeding damage to the latter, as compared to when plants were adjacent. The results of a small-scale open field trial showed that a turnip rape trap crop alone reduced flea beetle damage to cauliflower, significantly so later in the season at higher pest pressures, but that addition of tomato companion plants did not improve pest control potential.